The Centered Warrior

Effects of Taoism on the Combative Martial Arts

by Jenny Lynn Hedge

The mindset of the Oriental warrior is a foreign thing to most Westerners. Along with martial arts moves and strategies come philosophies, ways of thinking which may seem to Americans not fitting for a fighter. One of these philosophies is Taoism. Alongside of such beliefs as Buddhism and Confucism, Taoism has shaped the Eastern martial arts, and the Eastern warrior.

Here in our culture, combat is treated as more of a science than an art. Consider fencing, a sport I�ve enjoyed with the Murray State Fencing Club. Students of fencing learn the moves, when to use them, and strategies for tricking opponents. That is everything that I, being a Westerner, would think to learn about the sport. In the Orient, however, there is another element involved:

In Japan, perhaps as in other countries too, mere technical knowledge of an art in not enough to make a man really its master; he should also have delved deeply into the inner spirit of it. This spirit is grasped only when his mind is in complete harmony with the principle of life itself, that is, when he attains to a certain state of mind known as mushin (wu-hsin in Chinese), �no-mind."

No doubt you see the sword about to strike you, but do not let your mind �stop� there. Have no intention to counterattack him in response to his threatening move, cherish no calculating thoughts whatever. You simply perceive the opponent�s move, you do not allow your mind to �stop� on it, you move on just as you are toward the opponent and make use of his attack by turning it onto himself. Then his sword meant to kill you will become your own and the weapon will fall upon the opponent himself.

I admit I don�t yet understand how to apply this idea, either to fencing or ju-jitsu. I�ve taught to think of these arts as human chess, each move carefully calculated. Yet the experts do not have to think about each motion; they simply react of reflex, much faster than they could consciously think. Instead of thinking, �this is an attack to my left midsection, therefore I will parry six and repost,� they simply flow with the movement and do what the moment requires. Acting without calculating is clearly a Taoist idea. As the Tao Te Ching says:

The wise leader knows
his actions must be
without the use of forced energy.
He knows that more
is still required,
for he also knows
that he must act
without deliberate intent,
of having no intention.
To act without contrived intent
is to act without contriving,
and is the way of nature,
and so is the way of the Tao.

Using your opponent�s motion against him is something I am familiar with from studying ju-jitsu. Instead of struggling against the force, use it to your own advantage. Use his own momentum to throw him off balance. If you respond automatically by trying to stop your opponent�s movement, then you make the fight a contest of physical strength. If you flow with the motion, then you can take control.